Closure latch

ABSTRACT

A closure latch for a vehicle body deck lid or the like includes a striker mounted to the deck lid for movement with the deck lid and being positioned thereon to be in operative relation to a latch member in the form of a wedge plate slidably mounted on the vehicle body. The wedge plate is reciprocable between an unlatched position, a latched position and a release position with movement from the unlatched position to the latched position and from the latched position to the release position being power assisted so that during final closure, the wedge plate is power driven to effect latching whereby the deck lid is firmly forced into closure contact against the vehicle body with a weather seal therebetween and whereby further power movement of the wedge plate will effect a power-assisted unlatching of the deck lid, a releasable detent mechanism being used to hold the wedge plate in a latched position.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Edmond R. Gionet Warren; Theodore F. Peters, Utiea, both oi, Mich. [211 Appl. No. 846,451 [22] Filed July 31, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 3, 19711 [73] Assignee General Motors Corporation Detroit, Mich.

[54] CLOSURE LATCH 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] 0.8. CI. 292/332, 292/302 [5 l 1 Int. Cl E05b63/20, 1305c 19/00 [50] Field of Search 292/332, 334, 333,335, 341.15, 171,181,201, 229, 302

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,178,313 10/1939 Rossiter.: 292/181 2,507,822 5/1950 Sherrill 292/181 X 2,510,201 6/1950 Summey 292/144 Primary Examiner-James A. Leppink Assismnl ExaminerEdward J. McCarthy Attorneys-Warren E. Finken and Arthur N. Krein ABSTRACT: A closure latch for a vehicle body deck lid or the like includes a striker mounted to the deck lid for movement with the deck lid and being positioned thereon to be in opera tive relation to a latch member in the form of a wedge plate slidably mounted on the vehicle body. The wedge plate is reciprocable between an unlatched position, a latched position and a release position with movement from the unlatched position to the latched position and from the latched position to the release position being power assisted so that during final closure, the wedge plate is power driven to effect latching whereby the deck lid is firmly forced into closure contact against the vehicle body with a weather seal therebetween and whereby further power movement of the wedge plate will effect a power-assisted unlatching of the deck lid, a releasable detent mechanism being used to hold the wedge plate in a latched position.

PATENTED AUG 3697! SHEU 1 SF 2 CLOSURE LATCH This invention relates to closure latches and more particularly to an improved power-operated vehicle closure latch.

In various applications of closure latches, for example, in motor vehicle deck lids, it is desirable that the closure latch be capable of drawing the deck lid tightly shut against the vehicle body with a sealing gasket sandwiched therebetween. It is also desirable that this closure be accomplished without reliance upon the operator closing the deck lid with sufficient force to compress the sealing gasket. It is also desirable that unlatching of the deck lid be accomplished either from within the interior of the vehicle or from the exterior thereof.

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to im' prove closure latch mechanism whereby both latching and unlatching is power assisted.

Another object of this invention is to improve closure latch mechanisms for use in motor vehicles whereby unlatching can be accomplished from either the interior of the vehicle or from the exterior of the vehicle.

Accordingly, these and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a closure latch having a striker mounted to the deck lid and a movable latch member in the form of a wedge plate mounted on the vehicle body. The wedge plate is slideably mounted for movement to engage the striker and pull it down and then for continued movement out of engagement with the striker to release it, this movement being effected by a suitable source of intermittent power. A releasable detent hook means is used to engage the wedge plate to retain it in an unlatched position and another detent means is used to releasably retain the wedge plate in the latched position, all in relation to the striker.

For a better understanding of the invention, as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is had to the following detailed description of the invention to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, partly broken away, elevational view ofa vehicle having a closure latch according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. I with the closure latch illustrated in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the closure latch of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view of the closure latch taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2 but with the deck lid in a partially closed position and with parts broken away to illustrate details of the structure; and,

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but with the deck lid in a fully closed and latched position.

Referring now particularly to FIG. I of the drawings, a vehicle body includes a deck lid 12 hingedly mounted adjacent its forward edge for swinging movement between an open position, not shown, and a closed position, as shown. Preferably, the deck lid is swingably mounted by spaced coun terbalanced hinges, one of which has connected thereto an energy storage device of the type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,056,619 granted to Robert M. Fox and James D. Leslie on Oct. 2, I962, which is operative to store operating energy as the deck lid moves from a fully open position to a partially closed position. The deck lid, as shown, includes an inner panel 16 and an outer panel 18 hem-flanged together around the perimeter of the deck lid, as shown, at the rearward edge thereof. When in its closed position, the deck lid engages and compresses the sealing gasket strip 20 extending substantially around the perimeter of the deck opening and, in its rearwardly, generally horizontal position, being mounted within the channel-shaped portion 22 of the body back panel 24.

The closure latch mechanism of the invention includes a striker assembly, generally designated 30, secured to a backing plate 26 attached to the inner surface of the inner panel and a latch assembly, generally designated 40, secured to a backing plate 28 fastened to a rear portion of the vehicle body.

, Striker assembly 30 includes a striker plate 31 having a depending striker portion 32 for supporting a striker which can be formed integral with the striker portion or preferably, as shown, the striker can be a separate element such as a striker roller 33 rotatably secured by headed stud 34 to the depending striker portion 32. Striker plate 3i is secured as by bolts 35 to the inner panel 16 and backplate 26 so that the striker portion 32 and striker roller 33 extend through suitable apertures in the inner panel 16 and backing plate 26 to depend from the rear of the deck lid for a purpose to be described.

The latch assembly includes an inverted substantially U- shaped frame 41 secured by one leg thereof, as by bolts to the backing plate 28 with the central aperture 42 in the crossleg of the frame positioned to receive the striker portion 32 and striker roller 33 when the deck lid is lowered toward the closed position. A latch member in the fomi of a wedge plate is slideably supported adjacent to the free leg of frame 41 by means of spaced guide plates 43 secured as by welding to the frame. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper portion of each guide plate 43 is turned out and up to form with the free leg of the frame 41 and a guide track to receive the bottom end portions of wedge plate 50 while bearing pads 44 are secured to the upper surface of in-turned flanged portions 51 of the wedge plate in position to slide against the underside of the cross-leg of frame 41. Thus the wedge plate is slideably guided for reciprocating movement between an unlatched position and a release position relative to the striker roller 33, there also being a latched position intermediate the two last-mentioned positions, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Wedge plate 50 is provided with a first vertical detent portion 52, a ramp portion including a cam portion 53 and a substantially horizontal dwell portion 54, and a second vertical detent portion 55, all offset from the main body portion of the latch plate with the ramp portion including cam 53 and dwell portion 54 being adapted to engage striker roller 33 as the wedge plate is reciprocated from the unlatched position to the latched position, that is, when the striker plate is moved from the left to the position seen in FIG. 4.

The wedge plate 50 is normally biased to the left, as seen in FIG. 4, to an unlatched position, shown by the broken lines in this Figure, by a spring secured at one end by pin 61 to wedge plate 50 and at its other end, not shown, in a similar manner to frame 41. Movement of the latch plate to the right is accomplished by connecting the wedge plate to a suitable source of intermittent pulling power, which can be, for example, an energy storage device of the type disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,056,619 to Fox et al., not shown, since it forms no part of the subject invention. The connection between the latch plate and the energy storage device is by means of pull cable 62 connected at one end by stud 63 and clip 64 to the wedge plate, the other end of the pull cable being connected in a similar manner to the energy storage device with the arrangement of the pull cable 62 and energy storage device being such as to preferably limit the movement of the wedge plate to the left to the open or unlatched position as shown in FIG. 4 while movement to the right is limited to the release position, as shown. Alternatively, the movement of the wedge plate can be limited in either direction by suitable stops connected to or formed on frame 41.

A latch release hook 65, pivotally secured at one end by stud 66 to the left-hand guide plate 43, as seen in FIG. 4, and to frame 41, is provided intermediate its ends with a catch portion or detent foot 67 adapted to engage the back side of detent portion 55 of wedge plate 50 when the wedge plate is in the unlatched position to hold it in this unlatched position. Latch release hook is normally biased in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 4, to engage wedge plate 50 by spring 68 having one end engaging apertured tab 69 formed in the latch release hook and the other end engaging an apertured portion of frame 41. The opposite end or free end of the latch release hook 65 is positioned to be engaged by striker roller 33 when the deck lid 12 is lowered to rotate the latch release hook clockwise to release the wedge plate.

In operation, the wedge plate 50 is held in a latched position in relation to the striker, as seen in FIG. 5, by the pull on pull cable 62 tending to pull the wedge plate to the right and by a detent 71 pivotally secured as by bolt 72 to the striker plate 31. The detent 71 is formed as a bellcrank having one arm 73 adapted to engage detent portion 52 on the wedge plate to hold it in latched position and a second upstanding arm 74 for engagement by a key-operated rollback cam 76 or for connec tion to a remotely controllable power device such as solenoid 77 whereby the detent can be pivoted in a counterclockwise direction to release the wedge plate. Detent 71 is normally biased in a clockwise direction by coiled torsion spring 87 having one leg hooked over detent 71 and the other end engaged by tab 36 on striker plate 31. Cam 76, suitably journaled to striker plate 31-, is operated in conventional manner by a key inserted from the outside of the vehicle into a lock cylinder 78 mounted to outer panel 18, the cam 76 and lock cylinder 78 being operatively connected by shaft 80 in a known manner. When the lock cylinder is in a locked position, cam 76 is in the position shown in FIG. 5, so that when a key is inserted and turned, the cam will be rotated in a counterclockwise direction'as seen in this figure to engage detent 71 and rotate it to release the wedge plate. Detent 71 can also be released from the interior of the vehicle by energizing solenoid 77 which is secured to striker plate 31 and connected to the vehicle electrical power supply 79 by a normally open control switch 81 which may be located on the dash of the vehicle. The armature 82 of the solenoid is connected by pin 83 to one end ofline 84, the opposite end of the link being pivotally connected to detent 71 by stud pin 85 extending through a slotted portion 86 of the link 84 and secured to the detent.

Referring now particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the operation of the closure latch and the relationship of the various elements to each other will be described as the closure latch assembly is moved from an unlatched position as shown in FIG. 4 to a fully latched position as shown in FIG. 5. Assuming that the deck lid is in the fully open position, when the operator begins to close the deck lid, energy will begin to be stored in the energy storage device, as described in the previously identified U.S. Pat. No. 3,056,619, to arm it for moving the wedge plate to the right as seen in these figures via pull cable 62. Although energy is being stored in this device, it cannot move the wedge plate atthis time because the wedge plate is held in the unlatched position shown in FIG. 4 by engagement oflatch release hook 65 with wedge plate 50.

When the deck lid 12 is lowered to a nearly closed position, the depending striker portion 32 carrying striker roller 33 will extend through the central aperture 42 of frame 41 whereby the striker roller 33 moves adjacent to detent portion 52 of the wedge plate 50 to engage latch release hook 65 rotating it clockwise, thus releasing the wedge plate for movement to the right, the striker roller 33 at the time of release of latch release hook 65 being in position to be engaged by cam 53 as the wedge plate is moved to the right. By this time, the energy storage device is fully armed, so that upon release of the wedge plate 50, it is pulled to the right by the energy storage device via pull cable 62 until its movement in this direction is arrested by engagement of detent 71 with detent portion 52 of the wedge plate, thus defining the latched position of the wedge plate. As the wedge plate is moved to this latched position, striker roller 33 rolls across cam 53 onto dwell portion 54, whereby the striker assembly and therefore, deck lid 12 is pulled downward to a closed and latched position with the sealing gasket strip compressed between the deck lid and the vehicle body. Forced entry by the use ofa pry bar or other lifting device to force open the deck lid is prevented by the engagement of the striker roller 33 with the wedge plate 50.

Unlatching of the closure latch to permit opening of the deck lid 12 can be done either from the interior of the vehicle or from the exterior thereof. From the interior of the vehicle, closure of normally open switch 81 will energize solenoid 77 causing the armature 82 to retract to rotate the detent 71 via link 84 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 4 causing the release of wedge plate 50. This now permits the energy storage device via pull cable 62 to pull the wedge plate still farther to the right to release position, shown in FIG. 4, allowing striker roller 33 to run off the left end of dwell portion 54 allowing the deck lid 12 to be moved upward manually or under the influence of the conventional counterbalanced spring hinges with the striker roller 33 moving upward adjacent to the detent portion 55 of the wedge plate. As the striker roller 33 moves beyond the upper edge of detent portion 55 the wedge plate 50 is then free to move to the left again, back to the unlatched position which movement is accomplished, by spring 60, when the deck lid 12 is lifted to the fully open position to release the energy storage device, the latch release hook 65 then reengaging the wedge plate to hold it in the unlatched position in preparation for another latching cycle. During return movement of the wedge plate to the left, detent 71 is rotated counterclockwise by the curvedshaped end of detent arm 73 engaging the back side of detent portion 52 of the wedge plate.

In a similar manner opening of the closure latch from the exterior of the vehicle is accomplished by turning the key of the lock cylinder 78 which through shaft 80 causes counterclockwise rotation of cam 76, as seen in FIG. 5, to force detent 71 out of engagement with the wedge plate 50 thus permitting further movement of it by the energy storage device to permit unlatching as previously described.

Although the closure latch of this invention has been shown and described in conjunction with a vehicle deck lid, it is obvious that it would be useful with other vehicle closures or similar devices.

While a specific embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim is: l. A closure latch for latching a closure member to a support member, the closure member being swingably mounted for movement between open and closed positions relative to the support member and connected to an energy storage device adapted to store operating energy as the closure member is moved from the open position to the closed position, the closure latch including striker means mounted on one of said members, latch means mounted on said other member for reciprocation between an unlatched position and a release position with a latched position therebetween relative to said striker means, said latch means when moving from said unlatched position to said latched position engaging said striker means to force said closure member and said support member into a closed position relative to each other,

hook means positioned to normally engage and hold said latch means in said unlatched position and to be engaged by said striker means to release said latch means,

detent means swingably positioned to normally engage and hold said latch means when said latch means is in said latched position,

detent release means operatively connected to said detent means to selectively release said detent means from said latch means,

means secured to said latch means and connectable to said energy storage device for moving said latch means from said unlatched position to said latched position and then to said release position, and

bias means connected to said latch means to normally bias said latch means from said release position to said unlatched position.

2. A closure latch according to claim 1 wherein said latch means includes a latch member having an offset cam portion and a dwell portion thereon positioned to engage said striker means whereby said striker means first engages said cam portion and then said dwell portion as said latch means is moved from said unlatched position to said latched position.

3. A closure latch according to claim 2 wherein said striker means includes a striker roller rotatably journaled in position to engage said cam portion and said dwell portion of said latch means.

4. A closure latch according to claim 1 wherein said detent release means includes power means operatively connected to said detent means to effect pivotal movement of said detent means to release said latch means, and

control means mountable in spaced relation to said detent means and connected to said power means for operation to selectively energize said power means.

5. A closure latch according to claim 1 wherein said detent release means includes cam means swingably mounted for engagement with said detent means to effect pivotal movement of said detent means to release said latch means, and

cam actuator means operatively connected to said cam means to pivot said cam means into engagement with said detent means.

6. A closure latch for latching a closure member to a support member, the closure member being swingably mounted for movement between open and closed positions relative to the support member, the closure latch including striker means mounted on one of said members,

a wedge plate slidably mounted to said other member for movement between an unlatched position and a release position with a latched position therebetween, said wedge plate when moving from said unlatched position to said latched position engaging said striker means to pull said members into closed position relative to each other,

hook means positioned to normally engage and hold said wedge plate in said unlatched position and to be engaged by said striker means to release said wedge plate,

detent means rotatably positioned to normally engage and hold said wedge plate when said wedge plate is in said latched position,

means connected to said wedge plate for moving said wedge plate between said unlatched position and said release position, and

detent release means operatively connected to said detent means to disengage said detent means from holding engagement with said wedge plate when said wedge plate is in said latched position.

7. A closure latch according to claim 6 wherein said means connected to said wedge plate includes pull means connected to one end of said wedge plate and connectable to a source of intermittent power to effect power driven movement of said wedge plate from said unlatched position to said latched position and then to said release position, and bias means connected to said wedge plate to normally bias said wedge plate from said release position to said unlatched position. 5 8. A closure latch for latching a closure member to a support member, the closure member being swingably mounted for movement between open and closed positions relative to the support member, the closure latch including striker means including a rotatable striker roller secured to one of said members,

latch means mounted on said other member for movement between an unlatched position, a latched position and a release position relative to said striker means, said latch means including a cam portion and a dwell portion positioned to be engaged by said striker roller whereby as said latch means is moved from said unlatched position to said latched position said striker roller rolls across said cam portion onto said dwell portion and whereby as said latch means is moved from said latched position to said release position said striker roller rolls off said dwell portion,

bias means connected to said latch means to normally bias said latch means to said unlatched position,

power means connected to said latch means and connectable to a source of intermittent power to move said latch means from said unlatched position to said release position,

hook means positioned to normally engage and hold said latch means in said unlatched position and engageable by said striker means for release of said latch means,

detent means swingably positioned to normally releasably hold said latch means in said latched position, and

detent release means operatively connected to said detent means to release said detent means from said latch means.

9. A closure latch according to claim 8 wherein said detent release means includes power means operatively connected to said detent means to rotate said detent means out of engagement with said latch means, and

control means mountable in spaced relation to said detent means and connected to said power means for selective operation of said power means.

10. A closure latch according to claim 8 wherein said detent release means includes cam means pivotally mounted for engagement with said detent means, and cam actuator means operatively connected to said cam means to pivot said cam means whereby said cam means engages said detent means to release said latch means. 

1. A closure latch for latching a closure member to a support member, the closure member being swingably mounted for movement between open and closed positions relative to the support member and connected to an energy storage device adapted to store operating energy as the closure member is moved from the open position to the closed position, the closure latch including striker means mounted on one of said members, latch means mounted on said other member for reciprocation between an unlatched position and a release position with a latched position therebetween relative to said striker means, said latch means when moving from said unlatched position to said latched position engaging said striker means to force said closure member and said support member into a closed position relative to each other, hook means positioned to normally engage and hold said latch means in said unlatched position and to be engaged by said striker means to release said latch means, detent means swingably positioned to normally engage and hold said latch means when said latch means is in said latched position, detent release means operatively connected to said detent means to selectively release said detent means from said latch means, means secured to said latch means and connectable to said energy storage device for moving said latch means from said unlatched position to said latched position and then to said release position, and bias means connected to said latch means to normally bias said latch means from said release position to said unlatched position.
 2. A closure latch according to claim 1 wherein said latch means includes a latch member having an offset cam portion and a dwell portion thereon positioned to engage said striker means whereby said striker means first engages said cam portion and then said dwell portion as said latch means is moved from said unlatched position to said latched position.
 3. A closure latch according to claim 2 wherein said striker means includes a striker roller rotatably journaled in position to engage said cam portion and said dwell portion of said latch means.
 4. A closure latch according to claim 1 wherein said detent release means includes power means operatively connected to said detent means to effect pivotal movement of said detent means to release said latch means, and control means mountable in spaced relation to said detent means and connected to said power means for operation to selectively energize said power means.
 5. A closure latch according to claim 1 wherein said detent release means includes cam means swingably mounted for engagement with said detent means to effect pivotal movement of said detent means to release said latch means, and cam actuator means operatively connected to said cam means to pivot said cam means into engagement with said detent means.
 6. A closure latch for latching a closure member to a support member, the closure member being swingably mounted for movement between open and closed positions relative to the support member, the closure latch including striker means mounted on one of said members, a wedge plate slidably mounted to said other member for movement between an unlatched position and a release position with a latched position therebetween, said wedge plate when moving from said unlatched position to said latched position engaging said striker means to pull said members into closed position relative to each other, hook means positioNed to normally engage and hold said wedge plate in said unlatched position and to be engaged by said striker means to release said wedge plate, detent means rotatably positioned to normally engage and hold said wedge plate when said wedge plate is in said latched position, means connected to said wedge plate for moving said wedge plate between said unlatched position and said release position, and detent release means operatively connected to said detent means to disengage said detent means from holding engagement with said wedge plate when said wedge plate is in said latched position.
 7. A closure latch according to claim 6 wherein said means connected to said wedge plate includes pull means connected to one end of said wedge plate and connectable to a source of intermittent power to effect power driven movement of said wedge plate from said unlatched position to said latched position and then to said release position, and bias means connected to said wedge plate to normally bias said wedge plate from said release position to said unlatched position.
 8. A closure latch for latching a closure member to a support member, the closure member being swingably mounted for movement between open and closed positions relative to the support member, the closure latch including striker means including a rotatable striker roller secured to one of said members, latch means mounted on said other member for movement between an unlatched position, a latched position and a release position relative to said striker means, said latch means including a cam portion and a dwell portion positioned to be engaged by said striker roller whereby as said latch means is moved from said unlatched position to said latched position said striker roller rolls across said cam portion onto said dwell portion and whereby as said latch means is moved from said latched position to said release position said striker roller rolls off said dwell portion, bias means connected to said latch means to normally bias said latch means to said unlatched position, power means connected to said latch means and connectable to a source of intermittent power to move said latch means from said unlatched position to said release position, hook means positioned to normally engage and hold said latch means in said unlatched position and engageable by said striker means for release of said latch means, detent means swingably positioned to normally releasably hold said latch means in said latched position, and detent release means operatively connected to said detent means to release said detent means from said latch means.
 9. A closure latch according to claim 8 wherein said detent release means includes power means operatively connected to said detent means to rotate said detent means out of engagement with said latch means, and control means mountable in spaced relation to said detent means and connected to said power means for selective operation of said power means.
 10. A closure latch according to claim 8 wherein said detent release means includes cam means pivotally mounted for engagement with said detent means, and cam actuator means operatively connected to said cam means to pivot said cam means whereby said cam means engages said detent means to release said latch means. 